Does the brain function less with an older piano player?

I am 48, with a classical music education (cello , flute to academy standard)and have no problem reading music. I have decided to learn the piano now after years of playing 'single melody' instruments'. I am encouraged by my progress but I hadn't expected it to be such hard work! Don't get me wrong - I love it! - but I am worried that my age is a debilitating factor in absorbing 'multi-line' music. I get very frustrated with the left-hand/right-hand coordination. I spend hours getting it right.. and, yes, finally it DOES come together but phew..it is an effort. I can play the hands separately , no problem, but when it comes to putting them together than my brain goes into overdrive and sometimes refuses to work altogether. Is this a natural learning process with the piano? Does the brain instinctively react against the right hand/left hand conflict? I am intrigued by the workings of the brain re: left hand side = right hand and left hand side = right hand. Is this common to all people learning the piano? Or does it become more difficult the older you are?

Answers

Just a thought: Although you are musically schooled but trained on
other instruments, playing the piano sounds as if it's still new for
you. Practicing Clementi Op. 36 might not be your best first choice
to get both hands working simultaneously on a keyboard. Since you
already know how to read music, why not try some adult method books
which will start you off with basic keyboard coordination skills and
prgress from there. It shouldn't take you that long. Hope this
helps.

Brian ~ Learning the piano does make one long for the "simple" days
of playing only one or two notes at a time, doesn't it? (In my case
it was the viola.) All I can say is "our kind" (that is, older
students frustrated by playing right and left hands together) are
legion. Add counting out loud, and our brains short out. Someone
else might know more about the right brain-left brain conflict and
age, but I do know that learning the piano is supposed to be very
good for stimulating both "brains," thus postponing dementia. You
are young yet, and for you there is hope. Good luck, and it IS fun,
isn't it, when it all comes together! (PS - I'm hoping to someday
visit the Netherlands - the people I have met from there are
incredibly nice!)

Thanks a lot of your helpful replies! Jack, I am encouraged by what
you say about coordination. At the back of my mind I know that some
day it will come more easily than it does at the moment. I know it's
just a question of time and good hard practice...Shirley Hi! to a
fellow instrumentalist...yeh, I guess Im still thinking in single
lines although I have no problem with counting. Good luck too with
your studies!

Thanks for the question and thanks for the replies, both were helpful
and encouraging for me. I thought I was the only older (I'm 55) piano
student who sometimes finds it very challenging to pull it all
together. Right hand/left hand coordination, reading multilines and
spaces! plus counting and maitaining rhythm, continuity, and tempo
can be very, very challenging. I have found that if I just keep at
it, things have a way of eventually coming together. I have been
studying piano for 2 years now. I am a level three student. My
interest is sacred music. Please share with me practice suggestions
(how much time each day?) and practice techniques and methods. Any
and all words of encouragement will be appreciated.

I started my piano training at age 44. I am now 51 and love it and
because of my dedication, I have progressed well but slowly. I am
also a doctor so I have had an interest in the piano neuromuscularly
speaking. I don't think that age has anything to do with it except
that as our energy levels are lower, we are able to sit at the piano
longer than our younger cohorts.
Reading both lines of music for the piano is a simple matter of
starting slow and building up speed. I find it helpful to not get
bogged down in counting or rhythm too much at first. Learning the
fingering and training my ears to the sound seems to be most
important in learning the piece. Then I focus on counting and rhythm
which is adjusted easily once the sound and fingering is working. On
the other hand, trying to get the counting and rhythm straight when I
am still trying to hit the right keys can be frustrating and
difficult.

Im almost finished reading a new book out called The Practice
Revolution by Philip Johnston. EXCELLENT BOOK!! Ive been teaching
piano for about 32 years, and I have to say that there are many great
practice tips in this 324-page book (for students as well as
teachers). Covers all kinds of topics: Using the Right Practice
Tools, Making the Piece Reliable, Memorization, Speed Pieces Up,
Dealing with Difficult Sections, Preparing for Performance, and many
more. You can tell this guy spent much time thinking about
practicing. If youre looking to get the most out of the time you
spend at the piano, definitely check this out. Its advertised on a
website called practicespot.com. Incidentally, I have nothing to do
with the site or the book. You can preview it there or, I believe,
amazon.com.

Brian--without a doubt, we should have taken piano when we were
younger--I do believe we learn faster when we haven't used up all the
disk space in our heads, haha! But seriously, I'm 50 and I began
playing seriously 6 months ago--I worked on teaching myself from
books like Alfred and Bastian Adult piano course about 12 years ago.
Finally I decided to get a teacher to fill in the 'gaps'. I find I
have to put in about 3 hours a day. I fit in scales, chord
progressions, cadence and theory work in the early morning before my
day begins. I fit in pieces I'm working on a couple times a
day/evening. It does take a lot of patience, but well worth the time
and perseverance! I've really found that singing/humming while I
learn each hand separately helps me to 'know' the song and makes for
much easier 'coming together' of the two hands. I had to force
myself not to keep going in a piece and be in denial when there was
an area especially difficult. I will learn one measure at a time
until it is correct and sounds smooth, then add another measure, then
another. I usually learn two to three new pieces every two weeks.
I'm at level 6 in a classical syllabus program, and my goal is to
reach level 10 and then begin the Jazz syllabus. My husband began
jazz guitar 3 years ago and is now playing in a combo at the
community college where he says many of the music students are in
their 70's--so we're just 'young 'un's'! Good luck and most of all
Have Fun! Mandy

Thank you all! Itīs great to see that there are others out there who
missed out on the piano lessons while young and have to courage to
start anytime. I started lesson 1 1/2 years ago at 43 and boy, is it
hard work! I didnīt know what I was getting into but it was one of
the best decisions I ever made :-)). I have a wonderful teacher that
recommended Seymour Bernsteinīs book "With Your Own Two Hands: Self-
Discovery Through Music". I Quote "The effectivenes with which you
overcome difficulties, whether in practicing or in life, depends upon
your determinatoin to succeed. When you are truly determined and
fully committed to a goal, you somehow find the means to achieve it."
I put this on top of the piano.
Brian, I read an article about the effect of piano playing on the
brain and apparently piano playing increases right/left coordination
at any age. Getting the mind to work in a different way is
rejuvenating. Persevere! And donīt worry about age.
Best wishes from Hamburg, Germany